New Research Claims Birth Control Should Be Prescribed in Bulk, Despite Health Risks
According to new research from the University of Pittsburgh and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and published in USA Today, distributing 12-months of birth control pills at a time will reduce unintended pregnancies. The study’s lead author has stated that the distribution of more birth control at one time will reduce the healthcare costs […]
What Kind of Exercise Works Best to Mitigate PMS?
One of the first things my mom told me when she gave me the scoop on feminine cycles is that taking a walk can help ease menstrual cramps. She didn’t explain why, but I quickly learned she was right. A few years later, I was traveling to a family vacation and sat in a car […]
When it Comes to Irregular Periods, Fertility Charting Works Better Than Birth Control
“Fertility Awareness-Based Methods only work if you have regular periods.” I hear it all the time. This perception about irregular periods is one among the many myths purported by doctors, the media, and random strangers when it comes to natural methods for family planning. This commonly held perception is all wrong. Not only do Fertility […]
Gallbladder Disease in Women: The Hormonal Birth Control Connection
An estimated 25 million Americans are affected by gallstones, and the vast majority of them are women. Gallstones, which form when too much cholesterol or bilirubin builds up within the gallbladder, and then crystallizes, are the most common cause of gallbladder disease—a group of medical conditions affecting the gallbladder. Cholesterol gallstones are more common than […]
Scientific American Addresses the Problem of Birth Control Suppressing Periods
There is no more unifying experience among women around the globe than menstruation. All women understand what it feels like to have their period—even if they don’t exactly understand what it is. And yet, the topic of menstruation continues to hold significant stigmas, and embarrassment or hesitation to discuss this vital function of the female […]
If We’re Concerned about BPA, We Should Be Concerned about Hormonal Birth Control
You’ve definitely seen it on the packaging of plastic products, especially food storage containers and water bottles: “BPA-free.” What you may not know is what exactly BPA is, why it’s a problem, and other substances that produce similarly problematic effects on our health and environment. Decoding BPA “BPA” stands for “bisphenol A,” and it’s an […]
A Breakdown of the Recent FDA Citizen’s Petition Concerning Hormonal Contraceptives
You may already know that a Citizen’s Petition was recently filed to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) requesting more transparency and patient warnings regarding potential side effects for different forms of hormonal contraceptives. We have been talking about it for a few weeks now, and, as Natural Womanhood CEO Gerard Migeon invited readers weeks […]
A Recent Essay on ‘The Cut’ Dares to Address Why Many Women are Rejecting the Pill
This past week, The Cut, a website run by New York Magazine, published a personal essay by Anna Silman, titled, “Every Girl I Knew Was On It: Why some women are questioning hormonal birth control.” The author reflects on her own decision to abandon the Pill as she also explores why so many young women are […]
The Crohn’s-Birth Control Connection: More Gut-Wrenching News About Contraceptives
We’ve already talked a bit here at Natural Womanhood about how the Pill can negatively affect your gut health. So for our regular readers, it should come as no surprise that the development of Crohn’s Disease, an inflammatory bowel disease, has been linked to the use of oral contraceptives since researchers and physicians first began […]
Surviving the Charting Learning Curve—With Support
“I just started charting my cycle…and I’m so confused! How am I supposed to use this for family planning when I can’t even figure up from down??” Sound familiar? As a Fertility Awareness Educator, I often hear people say they want to learn to chart but it feels too daunting and difficult. For some, there […]